Horizontal die casting machine



June 11, 1957 Filed, Feb. 11. 1955 F. R. BAX 2,795,021

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HORIZONTAL DIE CASTING MACHINE 9 Shets-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 11, 1955United States Patent HORIZONTAL DIE CASTING MACHINE Frans R. Bax, DeKalb, Ill., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of NewYork Application February 11, 1955, Serial No. 487,484

16 Claims. (Cl. 22-68) This invention relates to die casting machines,and more particularly to a l-improved die casting machine of thehorizontal type.

It. is most desirable to make horizontal die casting machines asautomatic as possible'and as versatile as possible without undulyincreasing the expense or the complexity thereof. The former isparticularly necessary in view of the high degree of heat and.discomfort which a human operator must undergo while performing variousfunctions upon the machine. However, asis well known, the operation ofsuch die casting machines is relatively complex and, heretofore,complete automatism has proved to be a' matter of considerabledifiiculty. Specifically, it is highly desirable to automatize themovement of parts to be cast toward and into the machine, and themovement of the cast parts out of and away from the machine.Particularly in the field of electric motor manufacturing, the part willfrequently be a slotted electric motor core member requiring formationof a squirrel cage'type winding by casting conductive material withinthe core slots and'casting end rings at each end of the core. In suchcases, the core may be mounted on an arbor prior to the castingoperation provided of course, the operation is not one in which the coreis already permanently mounted as a shaft. Where arbors are used, it isnecessary to remove the arbors subsequent to the operation, and thisremoval is another task which is best accomplished by automatic means.

Another highly desirable feature in a die casting machine for castingwindings'inelectric cores is a high degree of automatic adjustabilityfor different size cores. At the present time, so far as is known,horizontal die casting machines are automatically adjustable only to aslight degree, any considerable change in the size of the core requiringa great change in the machine; While it is dc sirable to provideincreased automatic adjustability, it is further desirable to maintainand improve the features of automatic ejection of the core from themachine, and automatic disposal of the sprue and gate, that is, theunused solidified casting material, from the machine once the operationis finished.

An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide an improvedhorizontal die casting machine which will incorporate the advantageousfeatures described above.

Further objects and advantages of this: invention will become apparentand the invention will be better understood by reference to thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, and the features ofnovelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part ofthisspecification.

In its broadest aspect, this invention provides a horizontal die castingmachine which includes a pair of plates which are relatively movable ina horizontal direction. Means are provided for introducing the slottedcore or cores between the plates and into'openings which arerespectively provided for the cores in at least-one-of the plates.Adjustable means are then provided to accommodate the cores'inthe'openings for the casting operation, and third means are provided forejecting the cores out of the opening after the operation is terminated.Means for subsequently receiving the cores between the plates andremoving them therefrom are provided. Apparatus cooperable with thereceiving and removing means is also provided in order to separate eachcore from the arbor which has been mounted through it prior to theoperation.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is an end view, partly in cross section and partly broken away,of the improved horizontal die casting machine of this invention;

Figure 2 is a relatively magnified fragmentary view, partly in crosssection and partly broken away, of the left and center portions ofFigure 1 after the cores have been transported between the plates of themachine;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective, partly broken away, ofthe apparatus in position for the cores to be introduced into one of theplates;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in cross section along line 44 in Figure2 before insertion of the core into the opening;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in cross section along the same line 4-4in Figure 2, after the core has been moved into theopening in the plate;

Figure 6 is a view, partly in cross section, along the sanreline 4--t inFigure2 after the movable plates are together and the casting operationis started;

Figure 7 is a view along line 77 in Figure 6;

Figure '8 is a view along line 8-8 in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side view, partly in cross section and partlybroken away, along line 44 in Figure 2 after the casting operation iscomplete and before the plates have separated;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side View, partly in cross section, alongline 44 in Figure 2 after the separation of the relatively movableplates;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view along line 11-41 in Figurel;

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view along line 12.12 in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross section, along line1111 in Figure 1;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary view, partly broken away and partly in crosssection, along line 11-l1 in Figure 1;

Figure 15 is a view along line 15-15 in Figure 1;

Figure 16 is a view in perspective, partly in cross section and partlybroken away, of theimproved casting and core ejecting means of thisinvention; and

Figure 17 is a view along line 17-17 in Figure 16.

Referring now particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, a very briefdescription of the sequence of operation of the improved die castingmachine will be set forth in order that the detailed description whichfollows will be clearly understood. Means, generally indicated at 1, fortransporting slotted electric motor cores 8 are provided as shown.Transporting means 1 are movable toward the right, as viewed in Figure1, to enter between the stationary plate 2 and the movable plate 3 of adie casting machine generally indicated at 4. The die casting operationis then performed and means, generally indicated at 5, are provided totransportthe core 8 away from machine 4 and. deposit them on a conveyermechanism. 7.

The apparatus for transporting cores 8 toward plates 2 and 3 will now beexplained in detail by reference to Figures: 1, 2, and 15'. A. pair ofhorizontally arranged anglebeams 9 and- 10;are supported'at oneend'by abeam 3 11 and at the other end by a beam 12. If so desired, beams 9 and10 may receive further support intermediate their ends by means of aframe work 13 connecting the machine 4 to the beams 9 and 10. Asubstantially centrally located support member 14 may be arranged to besupported by the beams 9 and 10, and a similar support member 15 may bearranged at the end of the beams 9 and 10. Rotatably mountedwithinsupports 14 and 15 is a threaded member 16 which is secured to a gearmember 17 so as to rotate therewith. Gear member 17 in turn meshes witha gear member 18 which is secured to rotate witha shaft 19 extending outof a motor 20 which may be mounted on a base 21 on top of flange 22 ofbeam 9 and flange 23 of beam 10 (as is best seen in Figure l5).

In addition to flange 22 beam 9 has a bottom flange 24, and in additionto flange '23 beam 10 has a bottom flange 25. Asupporting member 261isprovided with an upper portion 150 having four wheels 27, 28, 29, and 39on each side., The wheels are rotatably mounted on axles such as 31(shown in connection with wheel 29) which extend through the framemember 26, with a similar wheel 29 being provided on the other sidethereof (Figure 2). Eachpair of wheels 28 and 29 rides on flanges 22 and23 and each pair of wheels 27 and 30 rides on flanges 24 and 25. A pairof internally threaded members 32 are firmly secured to frame 26 bymembers 33 respectively. It will be seen that, because the threadedengagement of the members 32 with the threaded member 16, rotation ofthe threaded member 16 will cause movement in a horizontaldirection ofthe members 32 and, consequently, of the frame 26 to which they areattached. The engagement of wheels 27, 28, 29, and 30 with flanges 22,23, 24, and 25 removes a substantial amount of stress from theengagement of threaded member 16 and internally threaded members 32, sothat the frame member 26 moves freely when member 16 is rotated, andserves to position frame member 26 accurately.

Secured to frame member 26 are a pair of horizontal platform members 34and35 which receive additional support from the bracing structure ofmembers 36, 37,

and 38, as shown. Platform 34 supports a pair of V- blocl; members 39,in each of which is seated a core member 8 mounted on anarbor 40.Similar V-blocks are provided on platform 35 for the same purpose. Itwill be seen from an inspection of Figure 2 that when motor 20 rotates,this rotation will be imparted to threadedmember 16 and that theengagement of internally threaded members 32 with the threaded member 16will cause horizontal movement of frame member 26 from the positionshown in dotted outline to the position shown in solid outline. It willthus be seen that when stationary plate 2 and movable plate 3 of thecasting machine 4 are separated, the cores 8 may be transported into aposition between the two plates 2 and 3 where they are ready forinsertion into the machine 4.

It willfurther be seen in Figure 2 that a limit switch such as 41 may besecured to flange 22, as shown, so that when front end 42 of portion 150of the frame member 26 hits the switch 41 the circuit to the motor maybe broken (not shown) to stop rotation of threaded member 16 andmovement of frame member 26.

While the exact structure for obtaining horizontal movement of the cores8 has been set forth, it will be apparent that other equivalentstructures will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is notintended that the invention be limited only to the exact structureshown.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4, and 5, it will be recalled thathorizontal movement of frame member 26 has been halted'and that,therefore, the V-blocks 39 which move with frame member 26 are alsostationary. The arrangement is such that the V-blocks are positioneddirectly in line with openings 43 in movable plate 3 into which thecores 8 are respectively to be inserted. Referring to Figures 2 and 3 inconjunction, it will be observed that oneach of platforms 34 and 35there is a cylinder 44 which is mounted to each platform as at 45. Apiston (not shown) is movably mounted within the cylinder 44 and apiston rod 46 extends therefrom. The piston rod 46 is firmly secured toa substantially flat member 47 which is slidably mounted within openings48 in the V-blocks 39. A pair of cam grooves 49 are provided in themember 47, one in connection with each of the V-blocks 39. Each V-block39 is provided with a cam part 50 which is slidably mounted within theslot 49 in member 47. Cam part 50 is secured to fork-like member 51which terminates in a V-shaped fork portion 52 which is arranged toencircle the arbor and bear against the core 8. The base 53 of member 51is slidably mounted in a slot 54 in the V-blocks 39. The slot 54 extendsthe length of the V-block so that member 51 is free to slide in adirection substantially parallel to the axis of the core 8. It will beseen that when pressure is applied to make the piston move toward theright end of the cylinder 44 (which may be effected by standard meansand is not shown) member 47 will move with the piston rod 46 toward theright as viewed in both Figures 2 and 3. The consequent movement of partwithin slot 49 will cause the member 51 to slide along slot 54 in theblocks 39.. Member 51 will therefore push the core 8 into the opening 43within plate 3, with arbor 40 moving into opening 55 provided thereforin the back of opening 43.

A clearer understanding of the exact cooperation between part 50 andslot 49, and the consequent movement of member 51 and core 8 may beobtained from an inspection of Figures 4 and 5 in particular. Figure 4illustrates the position of the core 8 after the piston rod 46 has movedflat member 47 approximately halfway so that part 50 has been caused tomove base 53 of member 51 halfway along slot 54. It will also beobserved that the arbor 49 has entered the opening 55 provided thereforeso that a relatively rigid guide is provided to aid core 8 in enteringopening 43. This is deemed desirable in view of the fact that there mustbe a very close fit between the core 8 and the opening 43-to precludethe possibility of undesirable flashing forming on the outside of thecore. 111 Figure 5 there is illustrated a core 8 after it has beencompletely inserted into the opening 43through the engagement of parts50 with slot 49 in member 47.

The member 47 may then be retracted by applying pressure on the otherside of the piston (not shown) within cylinder 44 to, return each member51 to the position shown in Figure 3 without, however, disturbing thecore 8 since the core was not secured to the member 51. The entireapparatus may then be withdrawn from betweenv the plates 2 and 3 byreverse rotation of the motor 20 to rotate member 16 and cause framemember 26 to travel to the left from between the plates 2 and 3.

Referring now to Figures 3 through 8 and 16, it will be seen thatmovable plate 3 may be moved toward and in engagement with stationaryplate 2. This maybe effected, for example, by means of hydraulicapparatus (not shown) which will cause a heavy rod 56 to bear againstback plate member 57' through a collar 15].. Plate member 57 may besecured, as by clamping or bolting (not shown), to a member 58 which isin turn secured by a plurality of members 59 to plate 3. Thus, after theframe member 26 has been removed from between plates 2 and 3, plate 3may be moved into engagement with plate 2 through the rod 56.

Within front portion 60 of stationary plate 2 is provided, in connectionwith each casting opening 43 in plate 3, a sleeve 61 which is providedwith an annular notched area 62 for a purpose which will be explainedherebeloW. 7 Within the sleeve 61 there is provided a die insert 63which is provided with an annular cutaway portion 64 to determine theshape of the cast mate rial; and which is further providediwitharpa'ssageway 65 through-.whichthe moltencastingmaterialmayflow. Theback end of the insert 63 is provided- With an annular projection 64which extends into notch 62 in sleeve 61.

Abutting against the sleeve 61 when plate 3 is in engagement withportion 60 of plate 2 is a sleeve'member 66 within plate 3 which definesthe opening 43in which core 8 is arranged. The length of the opening 43'is determined by front surface 67 of'a die insert 68 which is snugly butslidably engaged within sleeve member 66. Insert 68 is firmly secured,as at 69, to member 70 which is threaded over a substantial portion ofits length. Member 70; in turn, fits loosely in an opening 72 in a platemember 71, and a nut 81 is threaded on member 70 against the back ofplate 71. Plate 71' is secured, as by welding, at 73to a member 74-whichis in turn secured through an arm 75 to a rod member -76 adapted to besecured to a device such as a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) which maytransmit force through rod 76 so as to cause-plate 71 to move relativeto plate 3. During the majority of the casting operation, however, plate71 will move asa unit with plate 3 as though it were rigidlysecuredtheretoin the position shown in Figure 6. Insert 68-is providedwithan annular cut-away portion '77 which determines the-shape of thewinding to be cast on core 8. A'plurality of pins 78 extend through eachinsert 63. Each pin is anchored. at one end within plate 71, as shown at79, and the other end of each pin borders on the edge of cuteawayportion 77, as shown at 80. Since pins 78 are-secured to plate 71,forward movement of plate. 71 caused by rod 76 will cause pins-78 tomove forward relative to insert 68 so as to bear against the castmaterial within cut-away portion 77.

stationary to achieve movement of insert 68 relative to plate 71permitsends 80 of pins 78 tobe maintained flush with the surface of cut-awayportion 77' even when the length of the pins is changed, as byresurfacing, for instance.

It will be seen that although the insert 68 cannot move forward relativeto plate 71 because of the engagement.

against the end of oneof the thre-adedmembe'rs '70, and. is in contactnear its end with the end 86 of a rod 87, as

shown. Rod 87, in turn, is movable by any. preferred means such asstandard hydraulic cylinder 147.

end 860i rod 87 against lever 85'will cause-the lever to bear againstthe end of member 70; Thus, the pressure is transmitted throughmember'70 to cause insert 68 to bear against core 8. Also, nut 81 willbear against plate 71 to cause pins 78-to move with the insert 68 asaunit; This arrangement permits wide latitude in the length of'co're-8sinceinsert 68 will automatically adjust itself to that length'whilemaintaining the desired pressure against the end of the core.

A- plate member- 88 is provided, as shown, with recesses 89 toaccommodate respectively each of the inserts 68. Secured to plate 88, asat 90, are a plurality of pairs Each pin end 92 abuts the passageway 65through which the molten casting material- 94'flows fromcentral'opening93. v The casting material may be furnished to themachine through a pipe 95' of pins 91 having. ends 92.

which receives the material from an inlet 154, formstance. A ram155 maybe provided to force the material through pipe'95 and opening 93 withsui-ficient pressure to insure that it reaches each of the openings-43so as toffillthe' cut-away portions 64 and 77 'and-"thefslot-s withincore 8! It will also be seen .that,.turning of nut 81 while maintainingmember 70 It will be seen that operation of cylinder 147 to causepressure of 7 The arrangement of each pair of pins 91n1ay best be seenin'Figure 8, which shows that the two pins are provided along eachpassageway 65 between the central opening 93 and each of the coreopenings 43. It will further be observed from Figure 8 that the pins 78are preferably arranged equispaced in a circle. Also, Figure 8 clearlyshows how plate member 88 is shaped at 89 so as to avoid interferencewith the inserts 68. Secured to the 'back side of plate 88, as at 96(Figure 6), for'instance, is a rod 97 which is secured to piston rod 98movable in a cylinder 99. When rod '98 is moved forward plate 88 andpins 91 secured thereto will also be moved forward.

A ring member 100, best seen in Figures 6, 7, and 9, is movably mountedin a space 101 provided therefor in part 60 of stationary plate 2. Apair of rods 102 abut against the ring as shown and are arranged to bemovable by any desired mean'ssuch as, for instance, a hydraulic system(not shown). Since the ring bears against the insert 63, it will be seenthat forward movement of the rods 102 Will cause the ring 100 to slideforward and therebyforce insert 63' to the right to the extent permittedby'notch 62 in sleeve 61. This is most clearly depicted in'Figure 9 ofthe drawings which shows the position of inserts63 and 68 after ring 100has been moved forward part of its travel by the rods 102.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 15, it will be seen that a frame member103has an upper portion 104 which is provided'with four wheels 105, 106,107, and 108 on each side, with the Wheels riding on flanges 23 and 25of beam 10 and flanges 22 and 24'of beam 9. A pair of threaded members109 are secured to upper part 104 of frame member 103 by portions 156.These internally threaded members 109' are arranged in threadedengagement with a threaded member 110 similar to threaded member 16previously described. Threaded member 110 is- 'mou'nted at its outer endby means of a support 111 and at its inner end by means of anothersupport 112 which may, as shown, be secured to the frame work 13 in thesame manner as support 14. The end 113 of the threaded member 110 issecurely fixed to a gear member 114 which is arranged'to mesh with agear member 115. Gear member 115, in turn, is secured to a shaft 116which extends out of an electric motor 117. It will thus be seen thatrotation of motor 117 will cause movement of frame member 103 in ahorizontal direction in the same manner that rotation of motor 20 causedmovement of frame member 26 in a horizontal direction.

Secured to frame member 103 is a frame structure 118 which supports apair of platform members 119, on each of which is secured a pair ofV-block members 120.- When the casting operation has been completed,aswillbe explained hereafter, motor 117 will operate to cause'theV-blocks 120 to move to the left as viewed inFigure' 1. The movableplate 3 of the machine will move back, as will be explainethand the V-block 120 may then move between plates 2 and 3 to the position.

shown in Figures 10 and 16. Immovably secured to each of the blocks 120is a member 121 which has a cylindrical portion 123 connected to theblock by a flange 122. Portion 123 is concentric with the core 8' whenit restsin the V-blo-ck 120 and with the openings 43 in movable plate3when the V-block is in'core receiving:

positioned that arbors 40 of the cores 8aretcoaxial with rods 124" whichmay be secured together by joining mean's such -as 125'andi actuated bya'piston.rod'126 op-.

erate'd within a cylinder 127 supported by framework 128. At the outerend of each of rods 124 is a small projection 142, best seen in Figure12. Projection 142 may. be effected, as shown, by providing aball'biased-to project from the rod 124 by a spring 160 anchored by athreaded member 127 secured within the bore 128. Bore 128 is decreasedat 129 in order to prevent the protrading ball 142 from escaping.

. A chute 130 has an upper opening'131. and another lower opening 132over a conveyer belt 133.. A buffer member 134 may be placed oppositechute opening 132 for a purpose to be explained hereafter. Another chute135 has a similar upper opening 136, and a lower opening 137 aboveaconveyer belt 138, opening 137 being opposite a buffer member 139. Onthe other side of V-blocks 120 there is provided a pair of conveyorbelts 140 which are preferably aligned with V-blocks 120 when they arein the position shown in Figure 11. As isbest seen in Figure 15, chutes141 extend between the V- blocks 120 and the conveyor belts 140. I

The structure ofthe machine having been described, the completeoperation thereof will now be set forthin detail. To start a castingcycle of machine 4, motor 20 is operated and, through gears 18 and 17,will cause threaded member 16 to rotate. Through the threaded engagementof internally threaded members 32 with threaded member 16, frame member26 will move to the right as viewed in Figure 1. This motion willcontinue until front edge 42 of frame member 26 strikes limit switch 41to shut off motor 20 and halt the movement of the frame member 26. Whenthis occurs, each core 8 will be concentrically aligned with an opening43 within movable plate 3 of machine 4. Pressure is then provided toeach cylinder. 44 to cause piston rod 46 to move to the right, as viewedin Figure 3, carrying with it flat member 47. The groove 49 in the flatmember 47 cooperates with cam part 50, secured to member 51, to slideeach core member into an opening 43.

Referring to Figure 4, there is seen a core member at a point where thepiston rod 46 has moved approximately half of its travel, while inFigure the piston rod 46 has finished its travel and the core 8 has beenmoved completely into the opening 43 provided therefor in movable plate3. Pressure will then be applied at the other end of cylinder 44 tocause the piston rod 46 to retract flat member 47 thereby camming member51 back to its original position. The direction of movement of motorwill then be reversed and frame member 26 will move back to the positionshown in figure l and in dotted outline in Figure 2.

Movable plate 3 of the machine is mounted on rollers, such as 143, tofacilitate horizontal movement toward and away from .t stationary plate2.. Once the V-blocks 39 have been withdrawn from between the plates 2and 3, movable plate 3 will then be moved toward stationary plate 2 bythe chosen means until the movable plate firmly engages against portion60 of the stationary plate. At this point, the surface 144 of insert 63will serve substantially to enclose the core 8. vided within the insert63 to accomodate portion 146 of the arbor 40. Pressure is then appliedto insert 68 by means of the threaded member 70, lever member 85, member87, and cylinder 147;. The desired pressure, applied to insert 68, willcause the insert to bear firmly against the core 8 within opening 43.Insert 63 in the stationary plate 2 is precluded fronrtraveling to theleft (in Figure 6) and, therefore, the pressure applied through rod 87will cause the core 8 to be properly enclosed in readiness for thecasting operation. Thus, by the slidable arrangement of insert 68 insleeve 66 and the arrangement for causing the insert to bear against thecore, automatic adjustment is provided for. a wide variety of lengths ofcore 8.

The molten material to be used for the casting (which may be aluminum.or any other appropriate material) is then introduced through pipe 95into space 93 within the Opening 145 is prostationary plate 2. Ram 155will then force this material through passageways 65 which leadrespectively to the openings 43 containing cores 8. Suflicient pressureis applied through the ram to breathe aluminum into the cut-awayportions 64, through the slots (not shown) of the core 8, and into thecut-away portions 77 at the other end of the core. Once the aluminum hashardened, a trimming operation is performed to separate the casting fromthe hardened aluminum runner or sprue within passageways 65..Heretofore, such trimming has frequently led to distortion and damage tothe cast parts. The present invention avoids this disadvantage by theexpedient of trimming the casting while it is still completely enclosedwithin the space 43 by inserts 63 and 68, and sleeve 66. This iseffected by having rods 102 Iwhich bear against ring move forward toforce the ring to the right, as viewed in Figure 6. This in turn, willforce the insert 63 to the right and the casting 8 and the insert 68will also be so moved (see Figure 9). It will be seen that this movementwill shear the aluminum runner within passageway 65 from the castingwhich has been formed within the space 43. It will of course beunderstood that pressure through rod 87 will preferably be considerablydecreased at this point, in order to facilitate the movement of ring 100to the right. The amount of movement of the inserts 63 and 68 and of thecasting 8 is limited by the length of notch 62 in sleeve member 61. Whenthe movement has been completed, the pressure on rods 102 is removed sothat rod 87 will cause a return of the inserts 68 and 63 to theirposition as shown in Figure 6. It will be observed in Figure .9 that themovement of insert 63 will completely shear the runner 148 from thecasting, represented at 149. When the casting operation is completed,movable plate 3 is pulled away from plate 2 by means of rod 56. Thisposition of the apparatus is best seen in Figures 10 and 16. At thispoint, pressure will be exerted on plate 88 through rods 98 and 97 tocause the plate 88 to move forward carrying with it pins 91. As will beseen from comparison of Figures 7 and 8, the position of pins 91 is suchthat they are directly in alignment with passageways 65. As the pins arepushed to the left by plate 88, they will project into the passagewayand force out the runner 148 located therein. It will be recalled thatthis runner has already been separated from the casting by movement ofthe entire core 8 to the right, as viewed in Figure 9. Thus, by means ofpins 91, the passageways 65 are completely cleared in readiness for thenext casting operation. The runner 148 is ejected, as shown in dottedoutline at 148, and is free to fall between plates 2 and 3 into anycontainer (not shown) which may be placed beneath the plates at thatpoint for that purpose.

Viewing now Figure l in conjunction with Figures 10 and 16, as theplates 2 and 3 separate motor 117 will cause frame member 103 to carrythe V-blocks 120 to the left as viewed in Figure 1 until they arepositioned directly between the plates (best seen in Figure 16). Oncethe V-blocks 120 are respectively aligned with the openings 43, as shownin that figure, rod 76 will be moved to the left to cause plate 71 andpins 78 to undergo a similar movement. The pins are so arranged that theend 80 of each pin 78 bears against the casting 149 within cut-awayportion 77. As the pins 78 advance into opening 43, they will bearagainst the core 8 through the casting and force the core out of theopening 43 and on to the V-block 120. As the core slides on the V-block,the arbor 40 enters tubular portion123 of member 121 so that themovement of the core 8 on to the V-block is limited'by the abutment ofthe end 162 of the core 8 against the tubular member 123. Rod 76 willsubsequently retract to place pins 78 in a position of readiness for thenext casting operation. It will be observed that nut member 82 limitsthe amount of forward movement of the pins 78 so that, in effect, twodifferent items dearzenoai termine the position of core 8; ontthe blocks120: the position of nut member 82,, and the-location of tubular portion123 of member 121;

Referring now to Figures 1, 1.1 through 15, and 17, motor 117 is now.operated in the reverse-direction to cause frame member 103 to move tothe right and withdraw the V-blocks 120 from between the plates of thedie casting machine 4. The member 103 will move. to the right until itachieves the position. shown in Figure 1. At this point, arbors 40 willbe directly in line with rods 124 (Figure 11). Forward movement of theserods will cause them to bear against the ends of the arborsrespectively. Since the core 8 abuts against the cylindrical portion 123of member 121, the core will be prevented from sliding. However, thepressure of the rods 124 on the arbors-40 will cause each arbor 40 to beslid out from within its associated core 8. This is most clearly shownin Figure 17 where the movement of the arbor 40 as a result of themovement of rod 124. is shown in dotted outline at 40. The movement ofthe rods. 124 through the cores 8'to remove the arbors. 40 can. best beunderstood by reference. to Figure 13. This figure also shows the mannerin which arbors 40 descend along chutes 141 and are carried away onconveyers 140 to'a position of readiness for use with new cores.

As each rod 124 passes through core 8, the protrusion 142 at the end ofthe rod. is forced down against the action of spring 160; when the otherside of the core.8 is reached, spring 160 again forces projection 142 upand out of the rod 124. Because of this, as therods 124 are moved backto their original position, they will carry with them the cores 8through engagement of the pro-, jection 142 with the end 162 of the core8; As the rods 124move back, the bottom part of the left-hand cores .8;as viewed in Figures 11, 13, and 14, will abut against the top 157 ofchute 135. This will prevent further movement of core 8, and projection142 will be'forced in? wardly against spring 160; thus, the rod'124 willbe withdrawn from the core 8- which is. then free to descend the chuteas indicated at 158 in dotted outline in Figure 14. The core will emergefrom. the chute against the buffer 139 and then will be carried. onconveyer 138 to any desired location; similarly, the right-hand cores 8will be caused to move down chute 1319 as indicated in dotted outline at159 in Figure 14, and after comingup against buffer 134 will move alongconveyer 133.

It will be seen from the above explanation that this invention providesan improved horizontal die casting machine which provides: automaticloading of any desired number of cores; the proper pressure duringcasting and full automatic adjustability as to thesize of core; trimmingof the casting without any possibility of damage or distortion; removalof the runner subsequent to the casting operation; automatic unloadingof the cores from the machine; and the subsequent removal of the coresfrom the vicinity of the machine and to any desired location. It willfurther be seen that this has been achieved in a simple manner byrelatively economical means.

It will be apparent that while the invention has been explained bydescribing a particular embodiment thereof, improvements andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A horizontal die casting machine comprising a pair of relativelymovable plates, an arbor, means for introducing a slotted electric motormounted on said arbor between said plates comprising a horizontal track,core supporting means movable along said track, at least one of saidplates having an opening provided for said core, said core supportingmeans being further operable to introduce the core into said opening,means for casting a winding in the slots of said core, means forejecting said core from said opening, means for receiving said core-andtransporting the same away from said. plates comprising a secondhorizontal track, second core supporting means movable; along saidsecond track, and means cooperable with said second core supportingmeans to remove said arbor from said core.

2. A horizontal die casting machine comprising a pair of relativelymovable plates, an arbor, means for introducing a slotted electric motorcore mounted on said arbor between said plates comprising a'horizontaltrack, core supporting meansmovable along said track; at least one ofsaid plates having an. opening provided for said core, cam meanscooperable with said core supporting means to introducev the coreintosaid opening, means for closingv said plates and casting a windingin the slots of said core, means for ejecting. said core from saidopening, means arranged to move in between said plates to receive saidcore. and transportthesame away from said plates comprising a secondhorizontal track, second core supporting means movable along said track,and means arranged to move substantially perpendicularly to saidsec- 0ndcore supporting means. and cooperable therewith to removesaid arbor fromsaid core.

3; A horizontal die casting-.machine comprising a pair of relativelymovableplates, an arbor, means for introducing a slotted electric motorcore mounted on said arbor betweenv said plates comprising. ahorizontaltrack, core supporting means movable along said track, atleast one of said plates having an opening provided for said core, saidcore supporting means being further operable to introduce the core intosaid opening, means for casting awindingin the slots of saidcore, meansfor ejecting said core from said opening, and means for receiving saidcore and transporting'the same-away from said plates comprising a secondhorizontal track, and second core supporting means movablealong-said-s'econd track.

4. A horizontal die casting machine comprising a pair of relativelymovable plates; anarbor; means for introducing a slotted electric motorcore mounted on said arbor between said plates comprising a horizontaltrack, a member movable along said'track, and a support secured to saidmember and arranged to support a core; at least one of said plateshaving; an opening for said core; cam means cooperable with saidsupport'to introduce said core into said opening; means for casting awinding in the slots of said core; meansfor ejecting said core from saidopening; means for receiving said core and transporting the same awayfrom said plates comprising a second horizontal track, a secondmembermovable along said second track, and a second support secured to saidsecond member and arranged to receive a core; and means cooperable withsaid second support to remove said arbor from said core.

5. A horizontal die castinggmachine comprising-a pair of relativelymovable plates; an arbor; means for introducing a slotted electric motorcore mounted on said arbor between said plates comprising a horizontaltrack, a member movable along said track, and a support secured to saidmember and arranged to support a core; at least one of saidplates havingan opening for said core;cam means cooperable with said support tointroduce said core into said opening; means for casting a winding inthe slots of said core; means for ejecting said core from said opening;and means for receiving said core and transporting the same away fromsaid plate comprising a second horizontal track, a second member movablealong said second track, and a second support secured to said secondmember and arranged to receive. a core.

6. For use with a die casting machine, means for trans-. porting parts.to the machine and inserting the parts in the machine comprisingasubstantially horizontal track,

a member having'wheels :positioned' to engage said track: thereby tosupport said member, means for moving-said member along saidtrack, ahorizontal platform member secured to said wheeled member, a supporthaving a surface adapted to receive apart, said support havinga slotextending along the base of said surface, a movable member extendingfrom said surface, and having an extension within said slot, and a flatmember having a cam track therein slidably arranged within said support,said extension being positioned within said track whereby movement ofsaid flat memberwill cause displacement of said extension within saidslot thereby to move said extending movable member along said surface tomove a part from said surface to the machine.

7. For moving slotted electric motor cores to and into a die castingmachine, a plurality of parallel substantially horizontal overhead beammembers secured together to form a track, a member having wheelspositioned to engage said track thereby to support said member inhorizontally movable relation with said track, electric motor meanscooperable with said member to cause the same to move along said track,a horizontal platform member secured. to said wheeled member beneathsaid track, a support having a substantially V-shaped surface adapted toreceive a core secured to said platform member, said support having aslot extending along the base of said V-shaped surface, a fork memberhaving an extension within said slot and extending from said surface soas to be in contact with an end of a core placed on said surface, a fiatmember having a cam track therein slidably arranged within said support,and means for sliding said flat member relatively to said support, saidextension being positioned within said track whereby movement of saidfiat member will cause displacement of said extension within said slotthereby to move said extending fork member along the base of saidsurface to move a core from said surface into the machine, said motormeans being effective to move a core to the machine on said support.

8. A'die casting machine having a casting opening formed therein, asupport for a part movable into proximity with said machine in alignmentwith said opening, and means for moving said part from said support intothe machine comprising a member extending from said support and movablerelative thereto, cam means within said support and engageable with saidrelatively movable member to cause movement thereof whereby saidmemheris adapted to move a part from said support into the machine, and meansfor actuating said cam means.

9. A die casting machine having a casting opening formed therein, asupport for a part movable into proximity with said machine in alignmentwith said opening, said support having a slot extending thereacross, andmeans for moving said part from said support into the machine comprisinga movable member having an extension within said slot and arranged toextend from said support, and a flat member having a cam track thereinslidably arranged within said support, said extension being positionedwithin said track whereby movement of said flat member relative to saidsupport will cause displacement of said extension within said slotthereby to move said extending movable member'across, said support tomove a part from said support into said opening.

10. A horizontal die casting machine comprising first and secondrelatively movable plates having faces arranged to engage, said platesbeing formed to provide a unitary space when in engagement, first andsecond inserts respectively movably arranged in said first and secondplates, each of said inserts having a face arranged to determine an endof said space, pressure means arranged in operative relation to saidfirst insert to cause said first insert to bear against a part havingcavities adapted to be filled with casting material positioned withinsaid space, said firstinsert being movable over a substantial distanceby said pressure means, means formed on said second plate in cooperativerelation to said second insert for limiting movement of said inserts bysaid pressure means, a passageway formed in one of said plates extendingto said space, means adapted to force casting material through saidpassageway into said space to form a casting, means in engagement withsaid second insert arranged to bear thereagainst subsequent to theforming of a casting with a greater force than that exerted by saidpressure means on said first insert thereby to cause movement of saidinserts so as to shear the casting from the runner in said passagewaywhile the casting is'locked in said space, and stop means on said secondinsert for limiting movement thereof in response to said means inengagement therewith whereby said first insert can accommodate parts ofdifferent lengths in said space.

11. A horizontal die casting machine comprising a pair of relativelymovable plates, a sleeve member arranged within one of said plates anddefining the periphery of an opening therein, an insert movably arrangedwithin said one plate having a face arranged to determine the length ofthe opening therein, an elongated member rigidly secured to said insertopposite said face, pivotably supported lever means in contactintermediate its ends with the end of said elongated member, meansarranged to bear against the end of said lever to cause the same to bearagainst said elongated member, a plurality of pins extending throughsaid insert in slidahle relation therewith, a member normally movablewith said elongated member, one end of each of said pins being securedto said movable member, the other end of each of said pins normallybeing arranged flush with the face of saidinsert, and means for movingsaid movable member independently of said elongated member thereby tomove said pins relative to said insert into said opening so as to removea casting therefrom.

12. For use with a die casting machine, means for ejecting a slottedelectric motor core mounted on an arbor from the machine; means forremoving said core from said machine comprising a support having aV-shaped surface adapted to receive said core, and a member secured tosaid support and extending above said surface, said member terminatingin a tubular portion aligned with said arbor and adapted to fit aboutsaid arbor and bear against the end of a core seated on said surface;and means for moving said support away from said machine.

13. For use with a die casting machine, means for ejecting a slottedelectric motor core mounted on an arbor from the machine; and means forremoving said core from said machine comprising a substantiallyhorizontal track, a member movable along said track in either direction,means for so moving said member, a support secured to said member havinga surface adapted to receive said core, and a member secured to saidsupport and extending above said surface, said member terminating in atubular portion adapted to be aligned with said arbor and adapted to fitabout said arbor and bear against the end of a core seated on saidsurface.

14. For use with a die casting machine, means for ejecting a slottedelectric motor core mounted on an arbor from the machine; and means forremoving said core from said machine comprising a substantiallyhorizontal track, a member having wheels positioned to en gage saidtrack thereby to support said member, means for moving said member alongsaid track, a horizontal platform member secured to said wheel member, asupport secured to said member and having a substantially V-shapedsurface adapted to receive a core from said machine, and a membersecured to said support at the base of said V-shaped surface andextending upwardly from said surface, said member terminating in atubular portion adapted to be aligned with said arbor and adapted to fitabout said arbor and bear against the end of a core seated on saidsurface.

15. For use with a die casting machine, means for transporting a coremounted on an arbor away from the machine comprising a support having aV-shaped core receiving surface, and a member secured to said supportsubstantially at one end thereof, said member terminating in a tubularportion adapted to be aligned with said arbor and adapted to fit aboutsaid arbor and bear against the end of a core seated on said surface;

and means for removing the arbor from the core and the core from saidsupport comprising a rod member, a depressible projection adjacent theend of said rod member, and means for moving said rod memberlongitudinally toward said support when said support is so positionedthat said rod member and the arbor are adapted to be on a singlelongitudinal axis, said rod member being movable substantially acrosssaid surface whereby the arbor is adapted to be ejected through saidtubular portion, said rod member being retractab le whereby saiddepressible projection is adapted to engage an end of the core to removethe core from the support.

16. For use with a die casting machine, means for transporting a coremounted on an arbor away from the machine comprising a substantiallyhorizontal track, member movable along said track in either direction,electric motor means for so moving said member, a support secured tosaid member and having a substantially V-shaped surface adapted toreceive a core from said machine, a member secured to said support atthe base of said V-shaped surface and extending upwardly from saidsurface, said member terminating in a tubular portion adapted to bealigned with said arbor and adapted to fit about said arbor and bearagainst the end of a core seated on said surface; and means for removingthe arbor from the core and the core from said support comprising a rodmember, a depressibile projection adjacent the end of said rod member,and means for moving said rod member longitudinally in a directiontransverse to the line of motion of said support when said support is sopositioned that said rod member and the arbor are adapted to be on asingle longitudinal axis, said rod member being movable across saidsurface at least to said tubular portion whereby the arbor is adapted tobe ejected through said tubular portion, said rod member beingretractable whereby said depressible projection is adapted to engage anend of the core to remove the core from the support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS899,083 Taylor Sept. 22, 1908 1,318,404 Penn Oct. 14, 1919 1,394,246Bolling Oct. 18, 1921 1,673,054 Rosenberger June 12, 1928 1,756,602Morris et a1. Apr. 29, 1930 1,801,922 Junghans Apr. 21, 1931 1,858,453Lester May 17, 1932 2,065,213 Dolan et a1. Dec. 22, 1936 2,225,292Andrews Dec. 17, 1940 2,248,461 Pack July 8, 1941 2,302,367 Ericson Nov.17, 1942 2,304,899 Dupre Dec. 15, 1942 2,425,362 Cherry et all. Aug. 12,1947 2,483,093 Harvey Sept. 27, 1949 2,494,777 Patterson et al. Jan. 17,1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 550,352 Great Britain Jan. 4, 1943 1,103,501 FranceMay 25, 1955

